Police arrest Thai soldiers for abduction of Ukrainian couple
Tanyaluk Sakoot

Some of the soldiers are brought into Chalong Police Station.

Ten men, five of them soldiers from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, have been arrested for taking a Ukrainian couple hostage overnight and then demanding half a million US dollars (B15 million) from them.

But what should have been a smooth operation to get the money ended in the ten being arrested.

The Thais had freed Maryna Iermanova, 32, before taking her husband, Igor Iermanov, 37, to the Kasikorn Bank in Rawai, confident that she would not risk telling the authorities.

But she went immediately to Chalong Police Station to ask for help.

Lt Col Chukiat Imjaitam, deputy superintendent of Chalong Police, told The Phuket News that the couple owed money to a man in the Ukraine with whom they had been involved in a “grey” business.

A Phuket News contact was shown a police alert that mentioned the Ukranians in connection with a skimming gang.

Col Chukiat said the Ukranian businessman hired the five soldiers to collect on the debt. It is not clear yet how the other five Thais became involved.

After releasing the woman, the 10 took Mr Iermakov to a Kasikorn bank branch in Rawai, but discovered that there was only B1 million in the account.

They then took him to the Kbank branch near Chalong Circle – and near Chalong Police Station – where the abductors told their hostage he could give them a cheque for the money but ordered him to call his wife to meet them at the bank.

Travelling in three cars, the ten with Mr Iermakov arrived at the bank. Told of the rendezvous by Mrs Iermakov, the police were waiting for them and arrested them before they could go inside.

The five soldiers, when caught, were in possession of a variety of weapons, including 11mm pistols and Heckler & Koch 33 assault weapons. Happily there was no gunplay.

The ten people arrested were name as follows:

Master Sergeant 3rd Class Sumit Chuaybamrung, 49, from Surat Thani;

Sgt Kachenpong Boonmee, 43, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat;

Sgt Wichien Suknun, 42, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat;

Pvt Reuchai Promthongkeaw, 22, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat

Pvt Phisit Keawwihok, 26, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat

Prawit Edyao, 36, from Trang;

Ms Oranuch Tiyapongphatthana, 40, from Phuket;

Kemtichai Pansao, 32, from Nan;

Bandal Inmang, 35, from Phuket; and

Somporn Chaisit, 58, from Surat Thani.

Initial reports that some of the abductors were Tourist Police volunteers were strenuously denied by Capt Uramphon Kundetsumrit of the Tourist Police. He said that none of the names revealed worked for his department.

It is not clear how the Ukrainian businessman was able to hire the soldiers.

Additional reporting and photographs by Eakkapop Tongtub

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/police-arrest-thai-soldiers-for-abduction-of-ukrainian-couple-50218.php

-- Phuket News 2014-12-19

The Thais had freed Maryna Iermanova, 32, before taking her husband, Igor Iermanov, 37, to the Kasikorn Bank in Rawai, confident that she would not risk telling the authorities.

But she went immediately to Chalong Police Station to ask for help.

Hahahaha, good for her....

The push-back against the dissolution of the RTP has started.

Another day in the life in Thailand...... Well with all the bad press the police have

been getting, guess it was just a matter of time before the military had their share

of bad press. Does it feel like these kidnapping and ransom stories are becoming

more common ? Starting to feel like I am living in Mexico....

Edited December 19, 201411 yr by EyesWideOpen

'happily there was no gunplay' Oh that's nice.

The solders must have read the police manual on how to get rich quick.

So the Ukrainian couple were involved in some dodgy dealings and this was the fallout, or did I read it wrong ...?

Not only are they criminals, they are extremely stupid criminals!!

Letting the wife go....................................

I reckon this is the last you will hear of this.

Ukrainians, gray business, millions and millions of baht, gung-ho soldiers, "good guys" eventually won, except were they ultimately the good guys? That's a matter of sequel;

Indeed a good ol' shootout and some cut off members was missing from this awesome movie script - and then I realized TiT

They then took him to the Kbank branch near Chalong Circle and near Chalong Police Station where the abductors told their hostage he could give them a cheque for the money but ordered him to call his wife to meet them at the bank. Hostages writing cheques to kidnappers, I'm sure that will catch on. What could possibly go wrong?

Don't <deleted> with the Russian's

BTW the Tourist Police volunteer was brought into the station for translation while this was going on.....not a part of the original scheme.

Lt Col Chukiat Imjaitam, deputy superintendent of Chalong Police, told The Phuket News that the couple owed money to a man in the Ukraine with whom they had been involved in a “grey” business

Grey one: Drugs

Grey two: Prostitution ( as they've got their own airport called "Utapao", or "Uta Pao" quite a few don't even have a valid passport, flying in straight from Moscow.

Grey three: Open, as almost all organized crimes are always a big problem for all involved. Kalashnikovs still do make their profits.

But, but, the boys in green are the saviours of Thailand according to all the junta fan boys. They'd never do such heinous acts... *rolls eyes*

Criminals all the way around.

"the Ukranian businessman hired the five soldiers to collect on the debt." depending on criminals to do a good job eh!

Something doesn't make sense here. Draw 15 million baht (or even 1 million baht) from an ATM? Then say "No problem, I'll take a cheque." Oh come on !!!

Not only are they criminals, they are extremely stupid criminals!!

Letting the wife go....................................

soldiers aren't that bright, just look at those who are trying to be politicians.

So the Ukrainian couple were involved in some dodgy dealings and this was the fallout, or did I read it wrong ...?

correct, this story leaves a lot of stuff missing

My take on this is that there was a falling out of those involved in a major crime ring

This needs to be investigated further by someone that was not involved

so obvious to me - but maybe too much coolade tonight

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The push-back against the dissolution of the RTP has started.

Really?

Well it's natural that there will be pushback from the scaly elements of the current police set up, you wouldn't expect anything less.

Something doesn't make sense here. Draw 15 million baht (or even 1 million baht) from an ATM? Then say "No problem, I'll take a cheque." Oh come on !!!

I suppose you read ATM where they said branch - the second branch they were talking about is supposedly this one here (Google Street View) - it has a teller service there, not just ATM's.

- Now if you pan to the left and double click a few times, the next white building coming after Tops on right hand side is the Police Station - literally less than 150m away from the bank

Don't <deleted> with the Russian's

Don't with the Russians's what? What's the Russian connection anyway?

Don't <deleted> with the Russian's

Which Russians?

Don't <deleted> with the Russian's

You're not from Donetsk are you?

In this case all of them are criminals .

If there had of been a shoot-out, who would have won ? Soldiers with their guns or policemen ?

So glad that no bullets were fired.

Sadly, kidnapping/extortion is a growth industry around the world.

Edited December 19, 201411 yr by overhaul38

"They then took him to the Kbank branch near Chalong Circle – and near Chalong Police Station – where the abductors told their hostage he could give them a cheque for the money but ordered him to call his wife to meet them at the bank."

So now the kidnappers take checks? how about an IOU note? will they accept that?

So the Ukrainian couple were involved in some dodgy dealings and this was the fallout, or did I read it wrong ...?

correct, this story leaves a lot of stuff missing

My take on this is that there was a falling out of those involved in a major crime ring

This needs to be investigated further by someone that was not involved

so obvious to me - but maybe too much coolade tonight

Well, the article as written was definitely slanted to the RTP in "look, we CAN do our jobs, and hey, the Army are bad too" way.

Since the RTP (allegedly) are the ones that normally run the enforcement/abduction/extortion rings, I'd bet they were pissed they missed out on the cash too.

I wonder if they'll did any deeper into the Ukrainian side of things?